Walter (further to my last),
...after we had received a meagre PoW payment of German money from the railway contractor...
Fredghh (RIP) had to pay for being "shorn to the bone" when they captured him. Did you have to pay for your haircuts ?
Did POWs receive any "pocket money" (which supposedly was charged back to the British Government after the war, and offset against accumulated pay ? You heard strange stories when the POWs came home after "V" Day.
... scene of dereliction caused by Allied bombing...
Even though it made more work for you, it must have been a morale-booster for the POWs !
Danny.